Request to create a 2nd paid only version of the app (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by dialecticcake@lemmy.world to c/syncforlemmy@lemmy.world

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I don't like the lack of transparency with how the Google Play Store doesn't list the permissions if one pays for the app and instead only shows the permissions if one doesn't pay.

I generally prefer it when devs release two apps -- a free version and a paid version. This way it's very clear on the Google Play Store what is being tracked in the paid app.

This won't affect me personally, but I am curious if others would be more likely to use and pay for Sync if the permissions were more clear for the paid usage case.

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[-] kenbw2@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Yep, losing a sale from me for this

I can live with it being closed source, but I want an app without trackers built in (even if they're not used)

[-] wahming 11 points 1 year ago

Google doesn't allow it, nothing the dev can do

[-] dialecticcake@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I didn't find anything against having both a paid app and a free app in the Google's Policy Center.

While you can't have two apps called the same thing, e.g., both apps called 'your app name', you can have one app called 'your app name' and another app called 'your app name pro'.

I found advice going back years saying one just needs to create a separate project like this. And here is the most recent source I found saying the same thing and it goes further and lists apps that are on the store with both paid and free versions. I also did my own search and found this example: My Lightning Tracker & Alerts is free and My Lightning Tracker Pro is a paid app.

And regardless the dev saying they won't use the data from paid users -- that doesn't matter to me when legally by using the app I signed away permission for that data to be collected.

[-] Leuthil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This goes way back to when Google first introduced IAP. They were pushing to remove dupes from the store because it caused separate reviews and ratings. It could be that they just temporarily enforced it and now it's not a concern for them anymore.

I remember when this happened to Sync for Reddit. Unfortunately Google Play Store, like most of these app stores, can enforce almost anything they want even if it's outside of their policy because some stuff is so vague. And it's usually hard to get clear information from anyone when your app gets pulled or whatever.

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this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023

31 points (73.1% liked)